The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
This program offers no promises of serenity unless we are willing to do the legwork to help ourselves. By putting the focus on ourselves and our needs we begin to find peace and serenity within our lives. We gain confidence in our abilities and learn to believe we are worthy of good things in our lives.
I have seen many times in my life the rewards of doing the legwork and have recently reaped yet another. I lost my job in May of this year and obviously it has been very stressful. Despite this I got up every morning and went on at least 4 job sites searching for another job. Many of these sites I would hit multiple times during the day as new things were posted throughout the day. I went on multiple interviews - put on my best gameface each time. Some went well others not so much. For 5 months I put myself out there for rejection after rejection which was extremely tough because that is an issue I have carried with me since childhood. During the last couple of weeks I started getting very very discouraged and feeling like I couldnt do it anymore yet each morning I got up and did my routine of looking. This past Thursday I went on 2 very different interviews - neither of which I could get a good read on as for how they went but I turned it over. Both were on my mind all day Friday despite all my attempts not to obsess over them. After a few hundred serenity prayers said throughout the day and a lot of attempts to distract myself, I finally decided to contact the one making decision yesterday. I was told that they had not yet decided and they would call when they did. That was enough to ease the mind and I went about the business of doing what I needed to be doing. An hour later I get a call with a job offer which I gratefully accepted.
Even when I was ready to give up I kept doing the legwork because it was the right thing to do. Doing the legwork doesn't always have huge payoffs, however, as long as I keep doing it I will almost always feel better about myself and have serenity in my life.
Karen
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Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Love you all!
Karen
Congratulations on your new job! I believe whole-heartedly in what you are saying, for I have had similar experiences. Stepping forward and doing what was right, even though I didn't "want" to, gave me the proof that I do have an HP who is looking after me, and that miracles really can happen. Sometimes the end result was far better than anything I ever imagined.
Keep moving forward. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings, Lou
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Every new day begins with new possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with the things that move us toward progress and peace. ~ Ronald Reagan~
Sometimes what you want to do has to fail, so you won't ~Marguerite Bro~
In Al Anon, when my A son is doing better (which is rare) he goes off my radar temporarily and I am tempted to skip Al Anon meetings and not think about it. But I tell myself.. keep doing the legwork, don't give up, and go there to review what I have learned, seek new inspiration, and help others there with my observations and experience of over two and a half years in Al Anon.
And it strengthens me for the times when the next crisis hits with my son and I am again catapulted back into his dark hole of despair, need, addiction, suicidal talk, etc. And that crisis always seems to keep coming, but I never know when.
So having done the legwork, I am better prepared to deal with his issues and try to maintain my serenity in the face of difficult obstacles.
So legwork really pays off in all areas of life. Thanks for sharing!
